Sunday, October 21, 2018

Central State Marauders fall to Robert Morris, 49-45

csu_rmuMOON TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania – The Central State Marauders recorded a season-high 614 yards of total offense but it wasn't enough as the Robert Morris Colonials outscored CSU, 49-45, on Saturday.

The teams combined 1153 yards of total offense.

RMU (2-5), a NCAA Div. I FCS program, leaned on its strong running game to eventually come away with the victory. Alijah Jackson led the Colonials with 153 rushing yards. Teammate Teren Stephens finished with 135 yards on the ground.

CSU receiver Kevin Greenhow had a record-breaking day with 276 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Trent Mays finished the afternoon with a season-high 364 passing yards and three scores. Terraris Saffold eclipsed the century mark on the ground and found the end zone twice.

The Marauders (3-5; 1-3) will resume SIAC play when they host Tuskegee University next Saturday at McPherson Memorial Stadium.

BOX SCORE

THE BASICS

Score: Central State, 45 – Robert Morris, 49
Records: Central State (3-5); Robert Morris (2-5)
Location: Joe Walton Stadium – Moon Township, Pennsylvania

HOW IT HAPPENED

1st Quarter

RMU scored first as running back Teren Stephens broke away from the defense for a 41-yard touchdown run at the 13:13 mark of the first quarter. (RMU 7-0)

CSU immediately responded with a three play, 55-yard touchdown drive capped off by a one yard run by quarterback Trent Mays with 11:54 on the clock. (7-7)

On the ensuing kickoff, Stephens recorded a 67-yard return. RMU scored three plays later when quarterback Jimmy Walker connected with Matthew Gonzalez for a 16-yard touchdown pass. (RMU 14-7)

On RMU's next drive, Walker found Gonzalez again from 21 yards out to extend the lead to 14 with 4:29 left in the first quarter. (RMU 21-7)

2nd Quarter

CSU cut down the deficit to 10 on a Trevor Teel 29-yard field goal at the 13:19 mark of the second quarter. (RMU 21-10)

RMU's Brandon MaGee hauled in a 52-yard pass from Walker for the score with 10:49 left in the half. (RMU 28-10)

Starting the drive from their own two-yard line, Stephens was tackled in the end zone for a safety by CSU's Christian Lassiter. (RMU 28-12)
CSU struck again with 25 seconds left in the half as Mays threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Greenhow. (RMU 28-19)

3rd Quarter

CSU pulled within three points as Terraris Saffold ran for a 19-yard touchdown to cap off an eight play, 85-yard drive. (RMU 28-25)

Gonzalez caught his third touchdown of the day on an 18-yard pass from Walker with 9:45 left in the third quarter. (RMU 35-25)

After an interception by Lamont Montgomery gave CSU the ball at RMU's 15-yard line, Mays found Greenhow on the next play for the score. (RMU 35-32)

RMU bounced back with a 65-yard touchdown drive concluding with a 6-yard pass from George Martin to Mathew Barr. (RMU 42-32)

With three seconds left in the third quarter, Mays found Greenhow again for a 53-yard touchdown. (RMU 42-39)

4th Quarter

RMU's Alijah Jackson put his team back up by 10 with a 53-yard touchdown run with 10:24 left in the game. (RMU 49-39)

CSU manufactured a 12 play, 78-yard drive with Saffold scoring from 11-yards out. After a failed two-point conversion attempt, CSU trails by four with 6:15 remaining. (RMU 49-45)

RMU handed the ball off on nine straight plays to cover 69 yards and run off the remaining time to seal the victory. (RMU 49-45)

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Coming off of a 155-yard performance last week, CSU receiver Kevin Greenhow set the school's NCAA Div. II mark with 276 total receiving yards.

Mays finished his day completing 22 of 40 pass attempts for season-high 364 yards and three touchdowns. He also picked up a season-high 79 rushing yards.

Terraris Saffold recorded his third game of 100+ rushing yards this season. Saffold also recorded 149 return yards which included a 43-yard return.

Kailen Abrams led the CSU defense with 15 tackles.

CSU recorded a safety for the first time since the 2016 season.

CSU's 45 points are the most points scored in a loss since their 55-53 loss to Virginia Union in 2006.

The CSU offense recorded back-to-back games of scoring 40+ points for the first time since 1995.

UP NEXT

The Marauders will host the Golden Tigers of Tuskegee University (5-3; 3-1) next Saturday at 1 pm in McPherson Memorial Stadium.

CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

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